Commissioner Lesley Briones is proud to nominate Akilah Mance and Toi Babineaux to the Harris County Resources for Children and Adults (HCRCA) Board of Directors. The HCRCA Board provides critical oversight and guidance to programs serving vulnerable children, adults, and families across Harris County.

Babineaux has dedicated more than eight years of service to Harris County, and currently serves as Director of Community Resilience Programs at Harris County Housing and Community Development. Since assuming this role in May 2024, she has played a pivotal role in advancing the County’s strategic priorities through the planning, development, and implementation of homelessness prevention programs. Babineaux oversees a comprehensive public-facing rental assistance program and leads initiatives focused on bereavement support, eviction legal aid, and immigration services. Her leadership emphasizes collaboration, forging strong partnerships with county departments, government entities, nonprofits, and community groups to ensure programs are responsive to community needs.

Mance is the General Counsel and Director of Government Affairs for the Houston Forensic Science Center (HFSC), where she has served since 2018. As Chief Legal Officer, she provides legal guidance to the organization and its board of directors, while also leading efforts to strengthen relationships with local, state, and federal officials. Prior to joining HFSC, Mance served as a senior felony prosecutor at the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and as an associate attorney at a municipal law firm. She holds a J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law and a B.A. in Political Science and English from Rice University. Among her many recognitions, she is a graduate of Leadership Houston’s Signature Program (Class 38), a 2022 recipient of the Houston Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business award, and an active member of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church.